Collapsible support for tables, seats, shelves, and the like



March 9, 1926. 1,576,034

E. M. BUTT I CULLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR TABLES, SEATS; SHELVES, AND THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1923 Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

EDNA-M. I BUTT, OI WILLIAMSPORT, INDIANA.

COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR TABLES, SEATS, SHIILVES, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed May 11, 1923. Serial a... 638,229. it

To all whom, it may cancer-1w.

Be it known that I, EDNA M. BU'rr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Williamsport, in the county of Warren and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Supports for Tables, Seats, Shelves,. and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a pivoted bracket construction for the support of a shelf which can be used for a great variety of purposes, and in a great number of situations, which shall permit the shelf to be folded 'up along the support upon which the bracket is mounted, so as to be out of the way and to economize space and which shall at the same time be readily, easily and at a moments notice adapted to be unfolded to bring the shelf into use.

The invention consists of the certain novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter particularly pointed out and claimed, whereby the construction can be utilized as a table, a seat, or for any other purpose in which a horizontal supporting surface is desirable, which can be readily and easily adjusted as to height and folded up out of the way when not in use.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention opened out for use.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same, folded up.

Figure 3 is an end view of a portion of the shelf.

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section of the adjustable pivot rod for the shelf.

I have illustrated my construction as secured to a vertical back board 1, which ma represent any supporting surface to WhlCl the device is to be secured. To this support I secure a pair of supporting members 2, 2, a proper distance apart for the length of the shelf, table or seat board 3.

These supporting members are, in the particular instance shown, formed of hollow sheet metal with an ear 4, 5, at each end for attachment by screws to the back board.

At the lower end the sheet metal is brought out at right angles to the body of the sup port to form sleeves 6, 6, in which is secured a rod 7 extendingirom sleeve to sleeve. Upan h s red, at ea h nd i p csed an a m 8, 8, the sleeves being cut away for this purpose. These arms 8, 8, form the outer braces and supports for the shelf 3. The outer ends of these arms are slidably mounted in slotted holders or boxes 9, 9, secured to the under surface of the shelf 3, and the two arms are connected together by the rod 10, which at either end passes through an eye 11 in the end of each arm, with the ends of the rods supported to slide freely in the holders 9.

The inneredge of the shelf 3 is provided with hinge members 13, which are pivoted on a'hollow rod or tube 14,. The ends of this hollow rod extend into the open sides of the boxes or supports 2, 2, and mounted in the tube are a pair of pins 15,15, with the inner ends bent at right an les and projecting through a longitudinal s 0t 16 in the tube to serve as handles 17 The outer ends of these pins extend beyond the ends of the tube and project through holes 18 in the closed sides of the supports.

The pins 15 are normally held projecting outwardly by coiled springs 19, 19, surrounding the pins and bearing between the tube and a collar on the pin. As many holes 18 are provided in the supports 2, 2 as desired, and by manipulating the handles 17 the hollow tube can be raised or lowered to raise or lower the inner edge of the shelf 3, and inasmuch as the supporting arms 8, 8, for the outer portion of the shelf can be adjusted in the holders, the proper level of the table or shelf can be maintained. To prevent the arms 8, 8, slipping in the holders 9, 9, and destroying the level ofthe table, I provide notches 20 in the base ofeach holder 9 and also notch the ends of the arms at 21' (Figure 3).

In order to hold the table or shelf 3 when folded up, I provide the supports 2, 2, with supporting pieces 22, 22, which engage the inner portion of the table.

The operation and manner of use of my invention will be obvious from the foregoing description.

' Wherever a collapsible table, bench, shelf or chair is desired, the construction can be utilized. The supporting members 2, 2 are mounted on any vertical support and the device is ready for use.

The table or shelf 3 normally rests and i held in vertical closed position by the holde-rs 22, 22, and whenever the table or seat is to be used it is lifted from the hol er 22, the

inner edge raised, bringing the tube 14 to the proper position to permit the pins 15 to be entered into the desired holes 18 and thus to support the table at the desired height. The outer edge is then dropped to bring the table or seat into horizontal position where it is held by the supporting arms 8, 8.

It will be understood, of course, that in describing my construction as a table or a shelf, I do not wish to be limited in the I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Shelf adjusting mechanism comprising in combination with a backing member and a shelf, two channels with openings in the channels facing each the other, the channels being provided with means for attachment to the backing member, apertures in walls of the channels, a tubular member attached adjacent the inner edge of the shelf, said tubular member extending within the channels, said tubular member having spring tensioned rods adapted to seat in said apertures, means for adjusting said rods, arms hinged at the bases of said channels, with adjustable means of securing the ends of the arms opposite the hinged portions adjacent the outer edge of the shelf, and members extending from the bottom portions of said channels adapted to retain the inner edge of the shelf when said shelf is in folded-in posltion.

EDNA M. BUTT. 

